Playthrough - Before the Season Ends
By Alex White
- 12 minutes read - 2405 wordsBefore the Season Ends is a new Regency TTRPG by Jen Adcock of Owl Knight Games. It is about young women coming of age in the regency period. There is a focus on friendship and romance within that historical period; young women from the provinces meeting other people in London one summer for 'the season'.
There are playbooks themed after flowers, each of which has a distinct set of characteristics and goals. It is a narrative story game and special tokens are used as mechanics in the game to take a bit of narrative authority - changing a reputation, making progress towards a goal, build ties of friendship and so forth.
The playtest version is currently available on itch here, and is well worth picking up. https://jen-adcock15.itch.io/before-the-season-ends-playtest
These excellent notes of Session 0 and Session 1 of a short playtest Campaign are courtesy of note-taker extraordinary, Camilla Zamboni (Seriously, her notebooks are amazing). Published her with her permission and with grateful thanks.
Characters
The Ivy - Margaret Wells - Camilla
Margaret Wells, 21. Older brother: Jonathan Wells, who know about her column writing
She is lithe, talkative, thoughtful to the point of being oblivious to her surroundings, at times sarcastic, and very well-read. She is a writer and is fascinated by poetry and Romanticism.
She is publishing under her initials, M.W. - advice columns in her town, and now dabbling in fiction (banking on Mary Wollstonecraft’s fame and ambiguity). She longs to be part of a literary salon.
Letter token: Jonathan tells Margaret to make sure that in her new experience and acquaintances, the words she gives and receives are always true. Margaret thinks this is good advice.
The Rose - Julia Talbot - Alex
Julia Talbot, 20. Demure, blonde-haired, blushing, dreamy-eyed.
Only child, no siblings; has grown up without much interaction, but reading lots of romance books. She has a very literary idea of friendship and love, and is a bit naive.
Comb token: Her governess told her that she’s lived a sheltered life, and she might offend someone accidentally. If that happens, she recommends that she be quick to apologize. Julia thinks this is good advice.
The Violet - Emmeline Crane - Colin
Emmeline Crane, 18, steady and self-assured. Believes herself to be the most observant person in the room. She went to etiquette school, and she is excellent at it. She is very polished, and wants everyone to see it. Very steady and self-assured. She has not interrogated who she is as a person.
Purse token: Emmeline’s family is new to money. They tell her that despite her education and properness, she might find that it is not enough - and what will overcome that is the power of the pound. Emmeline thinks this is good advice, but is worried about it.
The Matron / hostess and guide for the Season
Mrs. Mary Drake - a married woman of means and class who is able to chaperone girls during a Season in London. Staying in London is very expensive, and she offers to help. She is known to our families and a trusted person.
A middle-aged widow; her only child is already an adult off on his own, managing affairs away from London. She likes to guide girls for the Season, because she is a bit of a social butterfly herself and she misses the enthusiasm and excitement of the Season.
Living Arrangements
There are two rooms, and two of us will have to share a room. We have a small table, a bed, and a wardrobe
- Julia is excited to share a room! She runs in and spreads out wide in the room.
- Emmeline would love to not share a room with anybody, but out of courtesy lets Margaret take her own room. She is tidy and almost military in her packing.
- Margaret is worried about her habit of staying up late to write, so she asks and obtains to have her own room
We are staying in Mayfair, a fashionable place to stay. Carriages go by often, there is a wonderful large park in the neighborhood. Our house does not have a big garden, but there are other houses on the outskirts of town where there are green spaces and they throw garden parties.
04/12/2026 - Session 1 Mrs. Fitzroy’s Garden Party!
Beginning
We have been at Mrs. Drake’s house for a bit to rest after the carriage ride that took us into London. She tells us tomorrow will be our first outing in society and our first event for the Season. Every year she hosts a party in her wonderful garden, an event that is not quite as formal as a regular ball.
How do we get ready for the party?
- Emmeline studies the types of flowers that Londoners grow and gets herself ready to mingle thoughtfully and is ready to go before anyone else
- Margaret picks a green dress to blend in and prepares a notebook and charcoal
- Julia goes to comb Margaret’s hair and hums a child’s song, which the two chat about Miss Crane being very nervous and helping her out then they chat about the novel Emma, which they both like! They become friends and share their first names! They both gain a friendship petal.
Middle - The Main Event
Mrs. Drake has a lovely carriage, we all get into it and go to the garden party! It is at the outskirts of Mayfair. It is a gorgeous sunny day, not too cool nor hot.
At the gate we meet our hosts, two women:
- Mrs. Honoria Fitzroy - an older woman of wealth and status
- Miss Cecilia Fitzroy - a debutante at the Season, her granddaughter who looks distracted
Emmeline displays perfect etiquette in greeting the hosts, and gains immediate reputation. Mrs. Fitzroy is impressed and tells Mrs. Drake that finally she has brought not just country girls to the Season.
We get into the garden.
- To the left are charming pavilion tents to rest in the shade; all pink and white, with a few people having refreshments and chatting.
- Ahead of that, there is a setup for pall mall with mallets and balls and gates - with some gentlemen idly playing around.
- There is a greenhouse (rare) with some people around it, chatting.
- There is a hedge maze, with a young woman kind of looking like she wants to go in…
Julia wants to go play pall mall, and drags the others with her. There we are introduced to three gentlemen:
- Mr. Charles Green - kind, enthusiastic
- Mr. James Reed - tanned, athletic
- Mr. Oliver Lovell - pale, a bit uncomfortable
They ask us to play. Mr. Lovell admits he is more about studying and is attending Oxford currently. Margeret lights up and shares that she is from Oxford herself!
Margaret and Oliver chat while she helps him with learning the game, and he mentions that he enjoys poetry and reading more than sports. Margaret is charmed, but also notices that Oliver is quite awkward in interactions.
Charles and James appear to have set up a wager about our games, and Oliver lets it slip when talking to Margaret. Charles has bet that the gentlemen will win; James has bet that the ladies will win.
Julia talks with James and reacts playfully at their wager; he loves that she is a good sport about it and her reputation with him grows.
Meanwhile, Emmeline is talking to Charles and scolding him about betting on a game between sexes and at a proper event. She does so by creating a parable about doing so, and making it clear about the moral lesson… Charles does not like that, and her reputation with him decreases.
Toward the end of the game, Emmeline and Margaret decide to win the game. Margaret shows her actual expertise and hits a masterful stroke, winning the game. All cheer (except Charles), and Margaret proposes to go get refreshments at the tent.
We split up:
Margaret goes to the tents with Oliver Lovell and James Reed and asks them about their interests. Lovell says that he will become a clergyman, who should not write and engage too much with poetry. Margaret is a bit bored by this. But he also says he knows many people in London and goes to literary salons, and invites Margaret to join while she is here for the Season. She happily agrees.
Emmeline goes over to the greenhouse, where she sees plants that she had not prepared for! there are even orange trees and tropical plants! She meets Mr. Thomas Fittzroy and his wife Lucy Fitzroy on the door of the greenhouse. She knows that while he is technically the head of household, Grandma Fitzroy is still firmly in charge. He seems very taken with the greenhouse and its treasures, while Lucy seems more interested in talking about anything else. Emmeline talks to her and learns that their marriage was more an advantageous match than a love connection.
Julia decides to go to the hedge maze, where she sees a young and restless woman with a parasol. She is Miss Isabelle Porter, Mrs. Fitzroy's sister. They chat about being in London for the Season, and Julia compliments Isabelle. Julia shares that Margaret and Emmeline are both very smart: Emmeline knows everything, and Margaret is really clever!
They talk about women supporting each other, and not being nasty. Then they decide to go into the maze and chat about love. Isabelle has grand romantic ideas, and there is a special gentleman she really fancies and gushes about. Julia tells her to follow her heart, and Isabelle reveals that a loveless marriage has already happened
Julia and Isabelle start talking to one another with first names, and become friends.
Later the girls get back together at the garden party and share what they have learned. Margaret shares about Lovell and wanting to go to literary salons; Emmeline shares about the loveless marriage between Mr. Fitzroy, more interested in the plants than his wife, and Mrs. Fitzroy, who is wilting away. Julia shares about her chat with Isabelle Porter.
Julia asks Margaret and Emmeline to be sisters and friends. Emmeline says that in time that will happen but doesn't open up right away - a little cold-hearted…
Then we hear some commotion coming from the glasshouse. Mr Green flings the door open, comes rushing out, and says to bring something cold because Miss Cecilia Fitzroy has fainted inside from the heat!
Two women react quickly inside the tent: Lady Dolores Patterson and Mrs. Sophia Richmond comment on the situation - and Mrs. Richmon has smelling salts. Margaret grabs them and runs to Cecilia FItzroy. In the meantime, Julia runs in with some water, and calls on Mr. Reed to help her. He comes in with Mr. Green and they carry her out to the tents. Margaret arrives with the smelling salts and revives Cecilia Fitzroy, who blushes heavily for being ashamed.
Emmeline comes in with a sandwich and the girls bring her away from the crowd - they move her toward her grandmother, Mrs. Fitzroy, who takes her inside.
Julia goes up to Mr. Reed and touches him lightly on the bicep, thanking him. He smiles back.
Margaret hands back to Mrs. Richmond the smelling salts vial, thanking her and commenting on the beautiful engraving, which she has seen in France. Lady Patterson chimes in, showing an appreciation for art and chatting up with Margaret. Margaret is intrigued with the lady, who seems to know quite a bit about the arts.
Mrs. Drake joins us and tells us that the main event of the garden party is the archery contest!
Margaret and Emmeline go sit among the audience, deciding to keep track of the men’s skills. They sit next to Lady Patterson and Mrs. Richmond, and Margaret introduces Emmeline.
Julia decides to participate in the contest, even though it’s her first time with archery.
At some point, a gentleman arrives really late! Mrs. Drake looks alarmed, stands up, and goes to talk to him. Lady Patterson says that he is Mr. William Drake, son of Mrs. Drake, and she spills the tea about Mr. William Drake: he is unmarried, and he lives off in the countryside, not much is known about him.
After a little while, Mrs. Drake introduces him properly and says she did not expect to see him here. He is charming, with a lovely smile, and is excited about the archery contest.
Emmeline tells him he should make up for being late, verging on rude, and Miss Julia tries to apologize and mend the tense interaction.
Eventually, Mrs. Fitzroy and Cecilia come back from the house and join the party. Cecilia still looks a bit ashamed, but she sits by us. Margaret asks her about her proximity with Mr. Green, and Cecilia blushes again!
The archery contest starts!
Contestants: Mr. Charles Green, Mr. James Reed, Mr. William Drake, Mrs. Honoria Fitzroy as hostess, Miss Julia Talbot, Ser Horace Thrup
Mrs. Fitzroy does ok, Ser Horace Thrup does very badly and hits the hedge, Mr. Green does well and seems to be looking at Miss Cecilia Fitzroy especially, then Miss Julia gets the bow and Mr. Drake helps her touching her hand and all!, Miss Julia hits the target, then Mr. Reed and almost hits the center, finally Mr. Drake shoots very close to Mr. Reed.
When Mr. Drake is standing behind Miss Julia, she smells gin on his breath! Oh my, a rake! But then when he loses to Mr. Reed he is a good loser, and Mr. Reed is a graceful winner.
The party starts to slow down, and we take our leave.
Ending - In the carriage
We all have a scene together, sharing impressions.
Miss Julia Talbot is very excited about the event and about being close to men; she shares about Mr. Drake’s breath, and about James Reed’s good looks and athletic performance.
Miss Emmeline admits she enjoyed herself today, also because of us; she says she can be distant, but it takes time for her. She looks forward to more high-stakes events coming up.
Miss Margaret enjoyed the company of Emmeline and the comments, and feels that this was a great start and setup for a fruitful Season of contacts and artistic company.
We share the gossip of the day, our impressions, and make our way home. We record a memory into our scrapbooks.